Everyone talks about being productive. Count the seconds. Don’t waste time; time is life. But is this productivity or being busy for the sake of being busy?

Being productive means you’re working towards a goal. You know what you want and you’re setting small goals or steps towards the larger goal. And each of these small steps have their own timeline. If they don’t, then these goals are just wishes. And wishes don’t come true.

But along the way, life happens. You get distracted. The involvement of family and friends can take a toll on your emotions.

Here are a few ideas you can implement to help you be more productive.

Harness the Power of Focus

One of the most critical elements of productivity is focus. Without it, you’ll find yourself switching between tasks. You’ll lose momentum and struggle to make progress. As Tim Ferriss, renowned productivity expert, puts it,

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

This means putting your most important tasks first. And, removing distractions that can derail you. You have to force yourself to focus on your tasks. Don’t wait for the feel good feeling before you being you work. The feel good feeling will not come. You have to force yourself to sit down and work on the important task and remind yourself how this task will lead you to your goal down the road.

Put in the action and then the feeling will come.

Set an Amazingly Large Goal

Everyone sets tiny goals. Tiny goals dont excite you neither does it push you out of your boundaries. Having said this, dont set ridiculous goals like getting a million dollars within a month when you’re barely making a hundred dollars. A more reasonable goal would be like making 10, 000 dollars within six months.

So, setting clear goals is an essential component of productivity. Without a clear direction, you’ll find yourself wandering aimlessly, wasting time and energy on non-essential tasks. Franz Kafka, the famous novelist, once said,

“Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.”

Set a goal just outside your reach, and then come up with small steps to achieve your goal, put a timeline against each of these steps, and then force yourself to take action on each of these steps.

It’s going to be hard, but the end result will be so rewarding. These are the exact steps every successful person goes through. We only see the end results. We don’t see the pain, sweat and tears these people put to get to the finish line.

The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

By setting specific, measurable, and achievable goals, you’ll be able to channel your energy towards what truly matters.

Managing Distractions

Distractions are everywhere, from social media to email notifications, meetings, and chatty coworkers. Distractions will derail you from your goal. And distractions can also come in the guise of friends and family members who pour cold water on your goals, saying that your goals are too far-fetched for someone like you. People do this for a reason. They are afraid of the success you might turn out to be. These are the first people who will hammer you down when the going gets tough for you. They don’t see the hard work you’re putting in to get the success at the end of the road.

To stay productive, you must learn to manage these distractions effectively. As Peter Drucker, the legendary management consultant, once said,

“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.”

Prioritize your tasks and minimise distractions, you’ll be able to stay focused on what truly matters.

Manage Your Time

Effective time management is critical to productivity. Learn to work in chunks of time — in batches of 30 minutes, and then take a 6 minute break. Go to the toilet, make coffee, go for a walk. The main thing is that you move away from your desk. Then come back and repeat this. I know this sounds tedious but this works. Ask anyone who is successful and they will tell you that this works. This is how your mind copes with stress.

As Stephen Covey, the renowned productivity expert, once said,

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

Then learn how to batch your work. This means if you intend to answer your emails, do this in one seating. Dont do anything else. This helps to focus your mind on one task. Then focus on another task in the next 30 minutes. Your mind work efficiently when it is not multi-tasking on many tasks at the same time. So, this means, shut off your emails and put your mobile phone on silent mode when working. Let you mind sharpen itself and laser focus on the work in front of you.

So, while it may seem counterintuitive, taking regular breaks can actually boost your productivity. By giving your brain a chance to rest and recharge, you’ll be able to come back to your tasks with renewed energy and focus.

As Laura Vanderkam, the productivity expert, once said,

“The key to productivity is recognizing that you’ll never get everything done, but you certainly can get the most important things done.”

5 Action Points to Boost Your Productivity

1. Prioritize Your Tasks: Start each day by prioritizing your tasks, focusing on the most critical ones first. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize your tasks into urgent vs. important and focus on the most critical ones first.
2. Eliminate Distractions: Identify the biggest distractions in your day and eliminate them. Turn off notifications, find a quiet workspace, and minimize meetings.
3. Set Clear Goals: Set specific, measurable, and achievable goals for yourself. Break down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks and focus on making progress each day.
4. Take Regular Breaks: Take regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. Use this time to meditate, stretch, or take a short walk.
5. Use Productivity Tools: Use productivity tools like to-do lists, calendars, and project management software to stay organized and focused. Find the tools that work best for you and use them to streamline your workflow.

These are big changes to make in your life. But you can make this happen. Do them one step at a time.

As always, I am here if you need help. Just leave a comment and a valid email address, and I will get back to you if you have any issues. We’re all in this together. If I can make a change, so can you.